Thursday, October 25, 2012

A fabric store in the area is going out of business. All the fabric they carry has to be ordered. That may be why they are closing. I happened to stop in the other day to see what they were getting rid of.

I asked if they were still selling things and they said yes but the material still had to be ordered. I asked if I could buy the sample. They said yes.....and it was cheap!

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

This year I have to be honest and say for the first time I didn't get into all of my Halloween decor. I hope this doesn't mean I am getting old!! I just wanted to do it simple.

Remember my Bee Clock I made? Well I tried to sell it at Bella and it didn't sell so I just incorporated it my Halloween Decor so it wouldn't be sitting around. Plus secretly I love it!!

I did manage to get out my Pier I Knock-Off Pumpkin. I even bought some cute little pumpkins and painted them white. All and all it is simple.

Simple is ok sometimes isn't it? I mean really we put so much pressure on ourselves to do it all! Sometimes you just have to give yourself a break. This is my break. I have been so busy with everything else so I kept it simple!

I really like the clock above my fireplace. It may be a keeper!

I also want to thank all of you that voted for my Craft Room Design!! I did not win but I really am honored to have been a finalist.

Monday, October 15, 2012

Decorating for any holiday can be expensive. There are several things you can do that can help with the cost.

First, you should look around the house and try to re-purpose things you already own.
Another way is to bring the outside in. I like to use branches and pine cones. You can spray paint branches and use them to create different vignettes.

One of my favorite things to do is use paper. Last year at Halloween I cut black bats and mice out of construction paper that I had left over from kid projects. I taped them to the walls and fireplace. I created a Sleepy Hollow Mantel. I even used some to create this chalkboard. The scrap wood I had in the shed!

I then got some scrap brown paper that was used for packing and began to draw it on.

It isn't perfect but that is ok! Just draw it and have fun. It doesn't have to be a masterpiece!

When you are done you have a free decoration to hang on a door or wall. Now I have to decide where I will hang it. I think it may need a spooky witch flying by.

Remember be creative with things you already have. It doesn't have to cost and arm and a leg, you just need an idea and a little creativity! We are so lucky to have great sites to get free graphics from too!

Saturday, October 6, 2012

I usually don't go for furniture with basic lines. Mainly because I love details and accenting them with paint and wax. I normally by vintage pieces too.

When this buffet became available I could see that paint could change the feel of the piece.

I knew I would keep the pulls but I wanted to paint them. I use oil rubbed bronze spray paint.

I also used Annie Sloan French Linen and dark wax to complete it.

I love the farmhouse feel the paint and waxes added to the finished piece. Of course a little distressing adds to the charm.

This was one that never ended up at the Barn Sale. It sold before I could get it there.

This piece made me realize to think about all the furniture I come in contact with. Whether it is vintage or not, the change can do it good! Someone out there will be interested in it if it is done well and adds character to their home.

Have you ever bought a piece like this? Did it go from plain to pizzazz?

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Did I tell you how much work went into this? Whew! I had so much fun meeting so many of you but it sure was a lot of work. I don't like to do things half way so making the booth look good was a top priority. In the end, I would have change a few things to lighten it up a bit. I did have a ton of compliments on the design and pieces that filled it so I take that as a success!

I wish I would have taken the after sale picture and you would have seen how much was gone. Lots of small pieces. The largest thing sold was that chippy cabinet. Next year I would not bring so many big pieces of furniture.

So I left of with the dinner on Friday night with all the area bloggers and the gals that came in for a visit.

We took a group picture of some of the bloggers that were there. You may recognize a few!

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Another event that truly whipped my butt! It was a lot of hard work but extremely rewarding at the same time.

I arrived on Tuesday at The Milky Way Farm with 20 something pallets to install with my friend Dan. That is when I got to meet a wonderful lady and friend to the blog world Donna from Funky Junk Interiors.

I looked at and lived with a room full of stuff for weeks. This is my dining room that I cleared out to fit all my stuff!!

On Wednesday we arrived with a loaded down trailer full of furniture and smalls. Dan helped measure out the spaces with the coordinator Linda.

This was the booth before. As we started setting up the pallets to create the space. Anyone that does this, pallets are a real inexpensive way to build a structure.

This is the after UGH! Now we had to start displaying and organizing. We arrived on Thursday morning to start our creation of our space!

Building was tricky since there was nothing to bolt on to. I had two 14ft old ladders that we leaned up to the rafters to make an A frame out of. We put a 4x8 across it to hang lights. I added my arbor from my backyard to create an entrance for interest. I also had a place to hang my sign. I attached an old crib rail an hung the sign from that. Then I created some of my brown paper flowers to hang around it. This was a huge success since it could be seen as you entered the barn.

I shared this space with my long time friend Vonda. She has always been
very creative and I knew we would fit well together. She has started a
blog too! Please go send her some love and a nice welcome at The Brassy Begonia

This was the set up of the ladder. Don't you just love that light!!! It was hard to get good pictures with the light coming in from those windows.

Friday was opening day! It started with the early birds.....and it wasn't us! We showed up a little late and I was rushing to get caught up all day!!! It didn't deter us though! We still had tons of customers and sales!!

Friday night some area bloggers and others like Rhoda from Southern Hospitality and Sandra from Sawdust and Paper Scraps joined us at dinner. We enjoyed talking and laughing about our blogs and all the opportunities that come in to play. I even shared a dessert with the group!! Donna enjoyed it the most!

She is a hoot!!

It was so much fun to spend time with these fabulous people! Don't want to bore you with too many pics so I will end it here. Or you can click here to see part two!

I am still cleaning all the dust and dirt off everything from the barn!!1st time = learning experience!!